Chaplain of the Grounds Update

I hope everyone is staying warm in this weather as of late. It is a difficult time for many who find themselves without a warm, dry place to sleep. It is also a difficult time for wildlife as they seek shelter also and food, which is scarcer this time of year. Supplemental feed for the birds is helpful, as is accessible water, especially in the freezing temperatures when it is less available. We have a small pond at our house which I have had to repeatedly break ice to allow birds access. Cover is another important piece for wildlife which can be as simple as evergreen shrubs or piles of brush. I watched in amusement the other day as a mockingbird chased away several Blue Jays who were stealing berries from his American Holly in a neighbor's yard. Although we currently have pines, and a few other evergreens on church property, we will be planning for additional plantings to provide additional cover and food sources in the coming years. Beth and I have watched the wildlife proliferate in our own yard the last six years as we have landscaped more with them in mind. We will be doing the same in the coming years at the church, as we are able. On a different note, I will be supplying at Church of the Resurrection January- March so you will not see me on Sundays but I will be around some during the week. Thanks be to God for our many blessings here at the Ascension. Bo+